Utility knife with folding mechanism

Abstract

A utility knife with a folding mechanism is provided, and the knife comprises: a handle comprising at least two side walls forming an internal space; a blade holding compartment having at least one end pivotally connected to the handle, the blade holding compartment comprises at least two side walls forming an internal blade cavity for holding a blade, the blade holding compartment comprises at least one notch, at least a portion of the blade holding compartment is designed to be situated within the space of the handle during a folded position; and a folding lock and release device comprises at least one spring and at least one slideably movable locking mechanism, and the mechanism comprises at least one protrusion and at least one button for controlling movement of the mechanism, and the protrusion engaging the notch and the spring being in an extended position during an open, unfolded position, and the button is slideably moved in one direction to compress the spring and to disengage the protrusion from the notch to allow for movement of the blade holding compartment to the folded position.

1 . A folding utility knife comprising:
 a handle comprising at least two side walls forming an internal space;   a blade holding compartment having at least one end pivotally connected to said handle, said blade holding compartment comprising at least two side walls forming an internal blade cavity for holding a blade, said blade holding compartment comprises at least one notch, at least a portion of said blade holding compartment is designed to be situated within said space of said handle during a folded position; and   a folding lock and release device comprising at least one spring and at least one slideably movable locking mechanism, said mechanism comprising at least one protrusion and at least one button for controlling movement of said mechanism, said protrusion engaging said notch and said spring being in an extended position during an open, unfolded position, said button is slideably moved in one direction to compress said spring and to disengage said protrusion from said notch to allow for movement of said blade holding compartment to said folded position.   
   
   
       2 . The knife of  claim 1  wherein said blade holding compartment comprises at least one indentation, said button is then slideably moved in an opposite direction to permit the engagement of said protrusion to said indentation to thereby allow at least a portion of said blade holding compartment to be situated within said space of said handle and lock said knife into said folded position. 
   
   
       3 . The knife of  claim 2  wherein said spring is in an extended position once said button is moved in said opposite direction. 
   
   
       4 . The knife of  claim 2  wherein said indentation is situated adjacent said end of said blade holding compartment that is pivotally connected to said handle. 
   
   
       5 . The knife of  claim 1  wherein said handle comprises at least one side lock, said button is then slideably moved in an opposite direction to thereby allow at least a portion of said blade holding compartment to be situated within said cavity of said handle and said side lock is activated to lock said knife into said folded position. 
   
   
       6 . The knife of  claim 1  wherein said notch is situated adjacent said end of said blade holding compartment pivotally connected to said handle. 
   
   
       7 . The knife of  claim 3  wherein said handle comprises top and bottom ends and said blade holding compartment comprises top and bottom ends, said top end of said handle is pivotally attached to said bottom end of said blade holding compartment. 
   
   
       8 . The knife of  claim 1  further comprising an interchangeable blade having at least one side with a sharp edge for cutting, at least a portion of said blade being situated within said blade cavity of said blade holding compartment and a portion of the blade being situated outside of the blade holding compartment to expose at least a portion of the sharp edge of said blade. 
   
   
       9 . The knife of  claim 1  further comprising a device for securing the blade within said blade cavity of said blade holding compartment. 
   
   
       10 . The knife of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of said folding lock and release device is situated within said space of said handle. 
   
   
       11 . The knife of  claim 1  further comprises a support, said spring having opposing ends, said first end of said spring having contact with said support and said second end of said spring having contact with at least a portion of said mechanism. 
   
   
       12 . The knife of  claim 1  wherein said button is slideably moved to compress said spring and held while said blade holding compartment is moved from a folded to an unfolded position. 
   
   
       13 . The knife of  claim 1  wherein said button is slideably moved to compress said spring and held while said blade holding compartment is moved from an unfolded to a folded position. 
   
   
       14 . The knife of  claim 1  wherein said handle further comprises dividers situated in between said side walls, said dividers provide for compartments for implements. 
   
   
       15 . The knife of  claim 1  wherein said implements are selected from a group consisting essentially of blades, scissors, screwdrivers, nail cutters, cutting devices, trimming devices and grooming devices. 
   
   
       16 . A folding utility knife comprising:
 a handle pivotally connected to a blade holding compartment, said handle comprising top and bottom ends and at least two side walls forming an internal cavity, said cavity of said handle designed to encase at least a portion of said blade holding compartment during a folded position, said blade holding compartment comprising top and bottom ends and at least two side walls forming an internal blade cavity for holding a blade, said bottom end of said blade holding compartment comprising at least one notch and at least one indentation; and   a folding lock and release device comprising at least one spring and at least one slideably movable locking mechanism, said mechanism comprises at least one protrusion and at least one button for controlling movement of said mechanism, said protrusion engaging said indentation and said spring being in an extended position during said folded position, said button is slideably moved in one direction to compress said spring and to disengage said protrusion from said indentation to allow for movement of said blade holding compartment to an open, unfolded position, said button is then slideably moved in an opposite direction to allow engagement of said protrusion to said notch to thereby lock said blade holding compartment into an open, unfolded position.   
   
   
       17 . The knife of  claim 16  further comprises a support, said spring having opposing ends, said first end of said spring having contact with said support and said second end of said spring having contact with at least a portion of said mechanism. 
   
   
       18 . The knife of  claim 16  further comprising an interchangeable blade having at least one side with a sharp edge for cutting, at least a portion of said blade being situated within said blade cavity of said blade holding compartment and a portion of the blade being situated outside of the blade holding compartment to expose at least a portion of the sharp edge of said blade. 
   
   
       19 . The knife of  claim 16  further comprising a device for securing the blade with said blade cavity of said blade holding compartment. 
   
   
       20 . The knife of  claim 16  wherein said button is slideably moved to compress said spring and held while said blade holding compartment is moved from a folded to an unfolded position. 
   
   
       21 . The knife of  claim 16  wherein said button is slideably moved to compress said spring and held while said blade holding compartment is moved from an unfolded to a folded position. 
   
   
       22 . The knife of  claim 16  wherein said folding lock and release device is situated adjacent said top end of said handle. 
   
   
       23 . The knife of  claim 16  wherein said button of said mechanism contacts said blade holding compartment during said unfolded position. 
   
   
       24 . The knife of  claim 16  wherein said handle further comprises dividers situated in between said side walls, said dividers provide for compartments for implements. 
   
   
       25 . The knife of  claim 24  wherein said implements are selected from a group consisting essentially of blades, scissors, screwdrivers, nail cutters, cutting devices, trimming devices and grooming devices. 
   
   
       26 . A folding utility knife comprising:
 a handle pivotally connected to a blade holder, said handle comprising top and bottom ends and at least two side walls forming an internal cavity, said cavity forming at least two compartments, said first compartment of said cavity of said handle designed to encase at least a portion of said blade holding compartment during a folded position, said blade holder comprising top and bottom ends and at least two side walls forming an internal blade cavity for holding a blade, said bottom end of said blade holder comprising at least one notch and at least one indentation;   a folding lock and release device comprising at least one spring and at least one slideably movable locking mechanism, said mechanism comprising at least one protrusion and at least one button for controlling movement of said mechanism, said protrusion engaging said indentation and said spring being in an extended position during a first open, unfolded position, said button is slideably moved in one direction to compress said spring and allow disengagement of said protrusion from said notch to allow for movement of said blade holder to a folded position, said button is then slideably moved in an opposite direction to allow engagement of said protrusion to said indentation to thereby allow at least a portion of said blade holder to be situated within said cavity of said handle into a closed, folded position; and   a foldable knife pivotally attached to said handle, at least a portion of said knife designed to be encased within said second compartment of said cavity of said handle during a closed, folded position.   
   
   
       27 . A folding utility knife comprising:
 a handle comprising at least two side walls forming an internal space;   a implement pivotally connected to said handle, said implement comprising at least one end with at least one notch, at least a portion of said implement designed to be situated within said space of said handle during a folded position; and   a folding lock and release device comprising at least one spring and at least one slideably movable locking mechanism, said mechanism comprising at least one protrusion and at least one button for controlling movement of said mechanism, said protrusion engaging said notch and said spring being in an extended position during an open, unfolded position, said button is slideably moved in one direction to compress said spring and to disengage said protrusion from said notch to allow for movement of said blade holding compartment to said folded position.   
   
   
       28 . The knife of  claim 27  wherein said implements are selected from a group consisting essentially of blades, scissors, screwdrivers, blade holding compartments, nail cutters cutting devices, trimming devices and grooming devices. 
   
   
       29 . The knife of  claim 27  wherein said handle comprises a channel, said spring being situated within said channel. 
   
   
       30 . The knife of  claim 27  wherein said blade holding compartment comprises at least one indentation, said button is then slideably moved in an opposite direction to permit the engagement of said protrusion to said indentation to thereby allow at least a portion of said blade holding compartment to be situated within said space of said handle and lock said knife into said folded position. 
   
   
       31 . The knife of  claim 27  wherein said handle comprises at least one side lock, said button is then slideably moved in an opposite direction to thereby allow at least a portion of said blade holding compartment to be situated within said cavity of said handle and said side lock is activated to lock said knife into said folded position.